Hospitality Design

DESIGNTODAY
rni no. deleng/2002/6742  REGISTERED NO. L/HR/FBD/256/13-15  BPC FARIDABAD  Posting Dt. 2-4
April 2014
Spaces Etcetera
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Iconic
lobby of M
GM
Grand San
ya,
China
See pg 78
IN focus
Hospitality
Design
Hotels, Restaurants & Resorts
Andaz, Amsterdam
Nobu Hotel, Las Vegas
Sireeampan Resort & Spa, Thailand
Saguaro Palm Springs, California
Amour Bistro & Monkey Bar, Delhi
Dhaba by Claridges, Delhi & Gurgaon
Plus: A peek inside Google’s Tel Aviv office
design focus
S
Striking Style
the andaz amsterdam hotel designed by renowned designer , marcel wanders , reflects
a modern and adventurous view of Dutch history and local culture. The design elements used
demonstrate the city’s mission to embrace the polarities within even while keeping an open mind
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designtoday
April 2014
et on the Prinsengracht (the site of the former Public
Library), a part of the iconic ring of canals that was
added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010,
Andaz Amsterdam is centrally located in the
bustling heart of the city. Surrounded by the creative
scene and dynamic spirit of the Jordaan district, the hotel is
located in a charming neighbourhood filled with Amsterdam’s
main art galleries, unique speciality shops, trendy fashion
boutiques, and stylish restaurants—all of which nourish the
city’s free-spirited, rich and diverse cultural character.
Based on the premise that the hotel should beat with the
same heart as the city, the unique flavours of Amsterdam are
embedded in the property’s adventurous design concept,
brought to life through the vision of renowned interior and
product designer, Marcel Wanders. Reflecting a modern view of
Dutch history and local culture, guests can delve into a piece of
Amsterdam wherever they turn, whether it is through the artistic
wallpaper in the guest rooms, the books on the shelves, or the
innovative food and beverage offerings at Bluespoon, the hotel’s
speciality restaurant. Throughout the hotel, Marcel played with
Marcel played with various sources of
inspiration including the Golden Age, Dutch
Delft blue, tulips and the colour orange
various sources of inspiration, integrating the heritage of the
hotel surroundings, the knowledge of the books once housed at
this erstwhile Public Library, and connecting polarities.
Specifically, the imagery of historic books about and from
Amsterdam serve as inspiration for the wallpaper and other
graphic décor details. It also creates a space to embrace the
visitor to Amsterdam and offer an authentic local experience.
Part of the hotel’s overall design concept incorporates a
unique video art collection that represents a diversion from
‘regular’ art. The 40 unique works from various emerging and
established local and international video artists notch it into the
hotel with the largest video art collection in the world. Selections
from the video art collection are showcased in different areas of
the hotel—in the public areas of the ground floor, in the hallways
throughout the various floors, or through a special video channel
design focus
In the style of a typical Amsterdam café, the
lounge bar exudes an intimate and ‘speakeasy’
atmosphere surrounded by elegance
available on the televisions in the guest rooms.
Guests experience personal style, comfort and
sophistication in one of the hotel’s 117 guest rooms, or in one of
its five suites. Due to the unique 1970s-style structure of the
monumental former Public Library, the hotel offers a total of 15
different room types. With room sizes ranging from 24sq m to
36sq m and suites sporting a range between 55sq m and
141sq m, the hotel is home to some of the largest guest rooms in
compact Amsterdam. This is reinforced by the open plan layout
of the rooms that allows for maximum space and natural light.
Even the bathrooms feature an open structure (with closed
shower and toilet) and include a multi-functional vanity
centrepiece made from 150kg of concrete.
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designtoday
April 2014
In line with the overall design concept of the hotel, the
artistic and stylishly designed rooms reflect a view of Dutch
history and feature small custom details to create an inspiring
environment. Striking elements include the hand-painted
washbasin in Marcel’s signature style, the oversized book-shaped
work desk, and unique wallpaper— visible in both the room and
the walls of the washroom. The specially designed, comfortable
reading chair, a full-length mirror, and a walk-in closet, complete
the layout. On the back wall of each hotel room sits a giant
photographic image known as a Connected Polarity. This feature
takes two unsuspecting items—in this case a fish head and an
object tail—and stitches them together to create a new, surprising
whole (the Amsterdam city logo is three xxx and if you look at
A meeting space is
covered completely in
Delftware—the
characteristic blue and
white pottery made in
and around the city of
Delft in the 16th
century—seen
everywhere from the
carpet to the
decorations, to the
customised chandeliers
design focus
Striking
elements in the
guest rooms
include the
hand-painted
washbasin, the
oversized bookshaped work
desk and unique
wallpaper
them as embroidery stitches you can fit things together and
connect them). The idea stems from the notion that while
Amsterdam is a creative and tolerant city, a city that is open
minded enough to begin a conversation without preconceived
ideas, it remains a constant challenge to stay this way. Thus
fish and spoon, fish and brush, fish and vase, sit harmoniously
on the walls of Andaz as one, demonstrating a mission to
embrace the polarities within the city even while keeping an
open mind.
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designtoday
April 2014
The social heart and soul of the hotel is located on the
ground floor of the hotel, where the restaurant, bar, lounge and
library are seamlessly intertwined. In the style of a typical
Amsterdam café, the Bluespoon Bar exudes an intimate and
‘speakeasy’ atmosphere surrounded by elegance.
Reflecting its energetic and distinctive surroundings,
Andaz Amsterdam is devoted to providing highly
personalised, uncomplicated service in an atmosphere that
authentically embraces the best of Amsterdam.
design focus
The hotel is home to
some of the largest
guest rooms in
compact Amsterdam.
This is reinforced by
the open plan layout
of the rooms that
allows for maximum
space and natural
light. Even the
bathrooms feature an
open structure
Photographs courtesy: Marcel Wanders